If you’re a one-woman show (or even if you’re not), your brand is constantly evolving, because you are constantly evolving.

It’s how you show people that you’re committed and this isn’t just some one week hobby where they’ll never see or hear from you again.

Show them that you’ve put time, energy, and intention into this.

It’s how you communicate with others -

what they can expect from you,

where they can hear from you (social, email, blog, etc.), and

why you’re doing it (your story makes you, you).

Don’t be afraid to be yourself and infuse some personality into it. It’s how you create a brand worth remembering and going back to. 

The truth is, there’s a lot of noise out there and a lot of short attention spans. So how do you capture and keep someone’s attention? By showing them you’re worth paying attention to - by helping them make their lives better.

It’s a big world out there, so how can you set yourself apart from everyone else?

The short answer is through branding.

But I’ve never been one for short answers.

So here’s the longer version:

By being…

in alignment, because it will shine through.

transparent, because people appreciate the truth.

vulnerable, and that’s how deeper connection is built.

yourself, because there’s no one quite like you.

By sharing…

your story and what you believe in.

your core values and what you support.

your past, because we’ve all gone through some kind of hardship.

your personality, because “like attracts like”, right?

By doing…

what feels good to you.

the things that make sense to you.

the inner work and asking yourself the hard Q’s.

whatever it is you need to do to grow.

All of the things I’ve mentioned above will help you grow your brand.

Because when you understand yourself and why it’s so important to do what you do, you start to show up for others in a bigger and more impactful way.

How does your brand make people FEEL?

Okay, let’s talk about feelings. Because I’m totally a feelings kind of person.

And if you’re here reading this, I’m pretty sure you’re one too.

I mean… you are reading this on a site called Wholehearted Woman, after all.

When people look at and interact with your brand, how do they feel?

Is it a good or bad feeling? A feeling they want more or less of?

Have you ever talked to someone who made you feel really good about yourself? Confident, like you can conquer anything.

And when you talk to someone else, you have a completely different experience. You walk away feeling discouraged and doubtful about yourself.

brands are like people.

Every brand has its own personality.

Some brands are more soft-spoken, but they make you want to look twice because you’re intrigued. While others seem to feel more sociable and charismatic.

And we’re all attracted to a certain type of person.

Some people are more drawn to words like… intuitive, feminine, authentic, soulful. (Hey, that's us!) While others are more drawn to words like.. bold, powerful, daring, impactful.

The goal of branding isn’t to attract everyone; it’s to attract the right people that resonate with you and your brand. 

It’s exactly why when introverts see that someone else is also an introvert, that’s the first thing they mention.

Because that’s who they connect to and resonate with the most.

What’s your brand personality, and how can you communicate that in your branding?

Remember, your brand doesn’t have to be or look like every other brand out there. Those brands already exist.

It’s time to think about what makes your brand unique, and branding is an awesome non-ending opportunity to do just that.

There are many ways to communicate with others, but here are the two main ways:

1. Words -

This blog post you’re reading right up is made up of many words. How are you feeling? Inspired? Bored out of your mind?

Either way, words have the power to make you feel something, which is why it’s so important to use your voice and infuse your personality into it. Is it going to resonate with everyone? Probably not. But, it is going to attract the right people who want to hear your message and work with you.

2. Visuals -

I don’t think I need to tell you how important visuals are. I mean, that’s why Instagram is so successful, isn’t it? Because we loveeee looking at pretty pictures. I know I do.

It’s aspirational - it’s what you want for yourself / your own life.

The thing with visuals is that it can either help you or harm you.

Can it actually harm you and your brand? Yes, it can. Or maybe not. I’ll let you decide on this one, but let's be honest, we've all judged a book by its cover before.

Here’s the thing:

People are constantly making first impressions on how we present ourselves.

As someone is scrolling through your website and Instagram feed now, they’re telling themselves a story.

Maybe it’s a story of how they want to learn everything there is to know about you, or maybe it’s a story of how they can find someone else.

Whether it’s through words, visuals, video, audio, or some other form of media, you want to make sure it represents who you are, how you feel, what you do, and how you can help them make their lives better.

So ask yourself if the messages you want to send and the feelings you want to evoke are coming across in your branding.

By the way, I’m launching a design shop for soulful, creative women.

If you have a personal brand and you’re a content creator, service provider (photographer, coach, consultant, etc.), influencer, blogger, etc., then this is for you.

Look, I don’t know everything that there is to know about branding. And I’m not going to pretend I do, because that’s not my gig and I don't.

But I do know that branding is about providing a good experience for other people and helping them feel good about themselves. So I just wanted to share with you on what I know about branding and building a meaningful relationship with the people who choose you.

Speak your truth and share your heart with those who need to hear it.

AUTHOR BIO

Hi there! I'm Molly, the founder of Wholehearted Woman.

I help bloggers establish and grow their brand identity and online presence through intentional strategy, visual design, vulnerability, and personal growth.

Be the person you needed when you were younger and share your story, because you're the one who someone else needs today.

From the way you do things to what you actually do says volumes about you.

In this day and age, we are our own personal brand, whether you work for someone else or yourself.

Think about it.

Whether you’re putting together your LinkedIn profile or new website…

Whether you’re working on your resume or product sales page...

Whether you’re going to an interview or going on FB live…

You’re working on your brand.

On improving your image.

On crafting a story that tells other people who you are.

In essence, isn’t that what branding is?

Branding is how you set yourself apart.

It’s why you tell people where you went to school.

Or what skills you have.

Or what services you offer.

Or why you do what you do.

I’m creating a story of who I am, who I choose to be, how I choose to be, and where I choose to be.

Branding is something that never ends, but rather is constantly evolving. Because we, as humans, are constantly evolving.

And while it may be tempting to want everything to be perfect, I encourage you to get messy, vulnerable, and real, because that’s where the magic happens.

Especially if you’re a personal brand. And even more especially if you’re in the creative field.

And you may want to or find yourself comparing your personal brand to someone else’s, but here’s a reminder: You can both have a personal brand that’s wildly different and still both be beautiful, inspiring, and life-changing.

Personal branding isn’t about competition.

It isn’t about being better than someone else.

Rather, it’s about being YOU and fully embracing that.

So think about what your personal brand says about you.

From the stories you tell to the filter you use on VSCO --

And how everything ties it together to tell a story ...about you, because it does.

When people see you, hear you, meet you, how do they feel? What do they remember?

And maybe the more important question is... is your branding in alignment with your values and purpose? Is it alignment with you?

What does your brand say about you?

Hi there! I'm Molly, the founder of Wholehearted Woman.

I help bloggers establish and grow their brand identity and online presence through intentional strategy, visual design, vulnerability, and personal growth.

Be the person you needed when you were younger and share your story, because you're the one who someone else needs today.

Are you looking for different ways to find new people to follow on Instagram?

The Internet is literally one of my favorite things, because you can be connected to anyone and everyone.

And it's not weird to meet people you've met on the Internet in real life anymore!

Remember when people still thought it was weird and dangerous?

Those days are long gone. (But still, be careful and smart about meeting up with people because it can be dangerous.)

6 Ways To Find New People To Follow On Instagram

1. Look at who your friends and favorite Instagrammers are following.

One of my favorite ways to find new people to follow on Instagram is to look through who my friends and favorite Instagrammers are following, because I already know we have the same taste, are into similar things, and most likely have similar beliefs and values.

Plus, now you can see how many of your friends are following someone else.

I love following people who are a bit more soulful and share bits of their personal lives, because I love getting to know other people's story and how they got to where they are in their journey, so I tend to look for people who have their own names in their username and/or have a selfie as their profile photo.

There's a lot you can know just by looking at someone's username and profile photo, but at the same time, you know what they say: never judge a book by its cover (but honestly, we all kinda do that right? I mean, you want to know what a book is about before reading it because books. are. long.)

2. Search your favorite hashtags.

Your new potential friends and favorite Instagrammers are probably using the same hashtags you are, so search your favorite hashtags.

Some of my favorites to look through are: #risingtidesociety, #abmhappylife, #darlingmovement, and #iamtheeverygirl because that's what all the creative entrepreneurs are using.

And lately, I've been keeping my eye on #lasvegasphotography, because I'm search for a Las Vegas based photographer! So if you want to find someone local, use your city in your hashtags or check out the next bullet point.

3. Use the geotargeting feature.

One of the great things about Instagram is the ability to tag your location for your photos and IG stories, because it makes it a great way to find people near you.

I love using this feature, because you never know where it could lead you.

I mean - it's possible to live in the same city your whole life never meeting someone and one day meeting them online and actually meeting in person. And when you finally do meet, you two instantly just click.

Use the geotargeting feature and search for your favorite places to hang out and see who else is hanging out there. Maybe you just follow them and leave it at that, or maybe you DM that and build a beautiful friendship!

4. Go through your followers list.

Have you checked out your followers list recently?

Maybe someone followed you a while back and you never checked out their account, but they're someone you totally find yourself resonating with.

5. Ask people for recommendations - who their favorite Instagrammers are.

I think we all have at least a couple of people that we love following and seeing on our feed.

So if all else fails, ask!

People love sharing their recommendations - and well, what better way to spread the love, right?

6. Look through someone's caption likes and comments.

I love looking through someone's caption likes and comments (especially favorite brands and companies of mine), because you can see who actually engages and is putting in their best effort. It shows that they're doing more than just liking photos (by the way, there's absolutely nothing wrong with just liking photos) - but it's nice to have people comment on your photos once in a while too, right?

I know we all want to grow our own following, but why not help and support someone else?

If you like someone's Instagram, give them a follow!

It doesn't cost you anything and it might bring a smile to their face.

And who knows? They might follow you back.

There are so many different ways to find new people to follow on Instagram.

Isn't it amazing to think that you could find new friends this way?

Share your favorite way to find new people to follow on Instagram below!